Government of Canada provides a $2.5 million grant to Canadian Red Cross for flood recovery efforts
Français

OTTAWA, May 3, 2019 /CNW/ - Flooding is Canada's costliest and most frequent natural disaster, and it can have devastating impacts on people's homes, businesses and daily lives. Supporting communities as they pull together to recover from natural disasters is a priority for the Government of Canada.

Today, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, the Honourable Ralph Goodale, announced the Government of Canada will provide a $2.5 million grant to the Canadian Red Cross to support flood recovery efforts across Canada.

This grant will support emergency services in affected communities.Emergency services include services to people displaced by the floods, including urgent needs such as temporary lodging, clothing, food, and other essential supplies. These funds may also be used for other supports to return home and begin recovery.

Quotes

"Canadians are grateful to the Red Cross for their dedicated work in cooperation with all levels of government and community organizations to support recovery efforts in the face of this spring's flooding. I am pleased to be able to support those important efforts. Our thoughts continue to be with all Canadians and communities dealing the difficult realities of recovering from this year's spring floods."

- The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

"The support provided today by the Government of Canada will help to meet the urgent needs of the people affected by these devastating floods. We encourage every household impacted by the flooding in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick to register with the Red Cross for assistance. Once the water levels subside, the needs will continue. Thanks to the generosity of Canadians, Red Cross will be here to help people with the challenges they may face as they begin to recover from this disaster."

- Conrad Sauvé, President and CEO of the Canadian Red Cross

Quick Facts

This investment is in addition to the support already offered by the Government of Canada, including the deployment of Canadian Armed Forces, and the coordination support from the Government of Canada Operations Centre. For more information on the Government of Canada response to the Spring 2019 floods, visit Canada.ca.

The Government of Canada will also support the provincial governments through the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA) to cover the costs associated with long term recovery and rebuilding in the affected communities.

Through the recently released first-ever Emergency Management Strategy for Canada, the Government of Canada is committed to working with provincial and territorial partners to better identify, plan for and reduce the impact of weather-related emergencies and natural disasters on Canadians.

The National Disaster Mitigation Program (NDMP) addresses rising flood risks and costs, and builds the foundation for informed mitigation investments that could reduce, or even negate, the effects of flood events.

Looking forward, the federal government's infrastructure programming includes the $2 billion, ten-year Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF), which is making transformative investments in provincial and community projects that will make public infrastructure more resilient to the impacts of climate change and better able to withstand damaging and deepening cycles of storms, floods, droughts and wildfires.

Since the launch of the NDMP in 2015, the NDMP has approved funding for 363 projects across Canada that are helping to build safer, more resilient communities.

For further information: Scott Bardsley, Manager of Media and Communications, Office of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, 613-998-5681, scott.bardsley@canada.ca; Media Relations, Public Safety Canada, 613-991-0657, ps.mediarelations-relationsaveclesmedias.sp@canada.ca